BIOGRAPHY: Thomas was was the son of James and Ellen (North) Benson, 14 Aug 1832. At age 18 he was living with his parents and 5 brothers and sisters at 150 Barnard St., Sheffield, but was working as a table knife hafter. A table knife hafter made the handles for knives out of a variety of materials. On 15 May 1859 he married Lucy Goodinson at St. George's Church. His occupation then was German Silver smith. This meant he worked on a type of silver, not that he was German. He and Lucy raised seven children. Thomas worked as a spoon and fork filer for the Dixon firm, a large manufacturer of silver plates, etc., for 16 years. His employer and mentor, James Willis Dixon, paid for him to attend the Sheffield School of Art. In gratitude, he and Lucy named their first son Willis. In 1864 "James Dixon and Sons" where Thomas worked, was seriously affected by the great Sheffield Flood, but they rebuilt. In 1874 Thomas became seriously ill and had to quit the Dixon’s. So he began painting for a living full-time. He was mainly an animal painter, but also did landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. In 1882, his wife Lucy of 23 years, died at the age of 44. In 1894, when he was 64, Thomas applied form placement in the Shrewsbury Hospital, or Almshouse. This is a beautiful stone "village" on the hill overlooking Sheffield. He was sponsored by many prominent men in the city. Thomas was a member of the Sheffield Society of Artists, and he lived at Shrewsbury until his death in 1925 at age 92, having had a long and full life. According to his obituary, he was a “well-known Sheffield painter.”
The photo of people is a group of pensioners at the Shrewsbury "Hospital" Chapel, Sheffield. Thomas is on the far left.
The painting is one of his called "Horse in a Stable" painted in 1886.
The photo of people is a group of pensioners at the Shrewsbury "Hospital" Chapel, Sheffield. Thomas is on the far left.
The painting is one of his called "Horse in a Stable" painted in 1886.
BIOGRAPHY: Thomas was was the son of James and Ellen (North) Benson, 14 Aug 1832. At age 18 he was living with his parents and 5 brothers and sisters at 150 Barnard St., Sheffield, but was working as a table knife hafter. A table knife hafter made the handles for knives out of a variety of materials. On 15 May 1859 he married Lucy Goodinson at St. George's Church. His occupation then was German Silver smith. This meant he worked on a type of silver, not that he was German. He and Lucy raised seven children. Thomas worked as a spoon and fork filer for the Dixon firm, a large manufacturer of silver plates, etc., for 16 years. His employer and mentor, James Willis Dixon, paid for him to attend the Sheffield School of Art. In gratitude, he and Lucy named their first son Willis. In 1864 "James Dixon and Sons" where Thomas worked, was seriously affected by the great Sheffield Flood, but they rebuilt. In 1874 Thomas became seriously ill and had to quit the Dixon’s. So he began painting for a living full-time. He was mainly an animal painter, but also did landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. In 1882, his wife Lucy of 23 years, died at the age of 44. In 1894, when he was 64, Thomas applied form placement in the Shrewsbury Hospital, or Almshouse. This is a beautiful stone "village" on the hill overlooking Sheffield. He was sponsored by many prominent men in the city. Thomas was a member of the Sheffield Society of Artists, and he lived at Shrewsbury until his death in 1925 at age 92, having had a long and full life. According to his obituary, he was a “well-known Sheffield painter.”
The photo of people is a group of pensioners at the Shrewsbury "Hospital" Chapel, Sheffield. Thomas is on the far left.
The painting is one of his called "Horse in a Stable" painted in 1886.
The photo of people is a group of pensioners at the Shrewsbury "Hospital" Chapel, Sheffield. Thomas is on the far left.
The painting is one of his called "Horse in a Stable" painted in 1886.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
